Erasmus Experience in Brighton, England by Christina

Why did you decide to go to Brighton, UK?

As I wanted to practice my English language skills, I decided to go to an English speaking country. I had already been a on a few short trips to London before my year abroad and I found the city so wonderful. Brighton is also known as "London by Sea" and I as I found London so nice, and I wanted to be by the sea, Brighton seemed perfect. (From Brighton, you can reach London by bus in about 2 hours so it is worth doing a day trip! ) Additionally, the people who I'd spoken to about my year abroad all said Brighton would be very beautiful and I can now 100% confirm that statement.

How long do you get the scholarship for? How much support money do you get?

Through the Erasmus+ scheme support I get altogether 1. 600€, so for every month of my fourth month stay 400€. The support is also available for a longer period in case you stay abroad longer.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Brighton to other students?

As I study in Germany and the internship in Brighton was part of the degree, I am not really sure how the student life in Brighton is. However, overall I do recommend the city. In the summer there is a lot to do in the centre of Brighton. The Palace Pier is a famous and beautiful attraction and along the entire promenade there are restaurants, cafes, bars and even nice shops. In the summer months there is always live music in several places and there are even people on the streets until late. But I not only like Brighton in summer, I also like it in Spring. The city at this time of year is significantly quieter so there are not as many people outside. It is clearly colder with the reoccurrence of rain and fog but it is perfect weather to walk along the beach. (Due to my previous stays in England I can't confirm the statement it doesn't rains a lot. Of course there are rainy days but from my experience it doesn't rain more than it does in my home country Germany. )

I felt very comfortable in Brighton as a student (even if I wasn't studying and doing an internship)

How is the national cuisine?

In Brighton there is a big choice of restaurants and cafes for every taste. Like in many countries you can find many different international cuisines. There is something for everyone.

For those who would like to get to know the national cuisines there are possibilities. Fried eggs, bacon, baked beans and toast would be a typical English breakfast. You can find in many restaurants and bars traditional lunch dishes such as Sunday Roast, potatoes in many varieties, pasty's or fish and chips. You can get sandwiches and other delicious pieces of bread to take away everywhere.

I myself am vegetarian and there are loads of meat free options!

Do you have to pay to find your accommodation in Brighton?

I found my accommodation through Erasmusu and I was very satisfied. The process of searching for a flat ran smoothly, very straight forward and without additional costs. The accommodation itself was not very cheap but it very nice and in a good location.

I had my own room and bathroom in a flat with a very nice lady. We both used the rest of the flat (kitchen, living room etc).

How much does living in Brighton cost?

For my accommodation I paid around £500 per month. However, I believe there are cheaper options!

For shopping I recommend going to bigger supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl as they are cheaper than Sainsburys or Tesco. Waitrose is a much bigger supermarket but the prices are much more expensive than Aldi. Overall, the cost of food and the prices in restaurants are only a little bit more expensive than Germany.

With the bus and with an "Uber" (taxi) you can afford to get around Brighton well. Admittedly I rented a bike which was very practical and in the long run cheaper. (Cycle Brighton: very good bikes, locks and helmets for 4 months: 200€)

As Brighton is good for shopping and partying and there are great places to visit in the area, you should save some money for free time actives!

You should definitely inquire beforehand if you can use your credit card to withdraw money so you won't be surprised about paying any extra fees. In my opinion, if you don't have a credit card it makes sense to purchase one beforehand.

Is the language easy to understand? Did the university offer language courses?

Since I could already speak good English before the beginning of my year abroad I didn't have any difficulties. I found the people in Brighton didn't speak particularly fast. In British English there are a few differences to American English which now and again caused confusion. However, the people in Brighton were very open and friendly to me and I do not think it would be a big problem if you didn't speak very good English.

What is the cheapest way from Brighton to your city?

I started out from Cologne/Bonn and flew to London Heathrow. (It's worth looking at flights to different airports in London, the prices can vary! ) From the airport you can get the National Express to Brighton coach station which is right in the centre of Brighton.

In your opinion, where is the best place to party in Brighton?

Steinbeck and Shaw is a bar that's right next to ODEON cinema. There's a great choice of drinks (50% off all drinks between 5 and 10 o'clock) and the pizza is also yummy! Beneath the bar there's a club where you can go without paying entry. Although the club is very fancy and the drinks are expensive but they do play current and good music.

In the centre of Brighton there are many good bars and clubs where there is an entrance fee but offering cheap drinks.

And to eat? Can you recommend good restaurants and bars in Brighton?

A taste of Sahara (103, Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2AA) is a very cosy restaurant with great food.

There are delicious burgers and fries at Brighton Burger. The FilFil cafe and LEON offer very delicious natural fast food, for example, falafel wraps.

Boho Gelato is a ice cream shop right by the coach station. It's a bit more expensive than the promenade, however there is a lot of choice and it tastes a lot better than many of the other stalls.

Are there interesting cultural sights?

In Brighton there are many sights for people interested in culture. The Royal Pavillion, Brighton Dome, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Brighton Palace Pier, The Lanes and North Laines and many more. From Brighton there are many opportunities for day and weekend trips to famous sights: London, Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel, Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford.......

Would you like to give any advice to students coming to Brighton in the future?

From Brighton you can go to Birling Gap with the bus where you have a beautiful view of the Seven Sisters cliffs. Walking to over the cliffs offers a great view. You can always walk further to Eastbourne which is likewise worth a visit. (You can of course also drive there with the bus if you do not feel like walking. However, I found the hike over the Seven Sisters cliffs and to Eastbourne very beautiful. ) For hikers I also recommend going to Devils Dyke and a following visit to Devil's Dyke pub and restaurant.

Churchill Square is a very nice and big shopping centre. The Lanes also offers opportunities to shop, with many jewellers and restaurants.

If you visit the cinema I recommend going to the Picture House Dukes at the Komedia. It's a very cosy and small cinema and considerably nicer than the bigger ones.

Along the promenade you can get drinks in plastic cups and take them on the beach where many people have barbecues in summer. On the Brighton Music Hall Beach terrace along the promenade there is good music every night from different artists.

By the way, the beach in Brighton is pebble but not less beautiful than a sand beach. You can sit there and go on great walks in sturdy shoes.

Next to the centre of Brighton is Hove, which is also very nice.

At Brighton Marina you can find many different possibilities for things to do in your free time, such as playing billiards, bowling and mini golf etc.

Preston Park, St Ann's Well Gardens and Hove Park are also very beautiful. Macs Farm in Ditchling is also a good place to go camping.